A Dream Fulfilled: Walk Leader Certification

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Three years ago when they introduced the Walk Leader certification program from Leslie Sansone, I saved the postcard that my Aunt Barb gave me announcing it, and put it up on my desk. I wondered if I would be a good leader. However, at that time, I was still at the beginning of my journey. I still needed to lose 100 lbs. And I wondered, how could I lead, when I needed to be led? So I put that postcard away and shelved that dream. But as anyone knows with a dream deferred, as the poem by Langston Hughes states, it “explodes”, meaning this dream kept building in my head and it was something I would think about, then disregard. This certification is only offered once a year, so every year come certification time, as I grew closer to my weight loss goal, I would think about it, but then think of a million reasons why not. It cost too much money. Who would come to my class? Who did I think I WAS, really.

Well, no more. This past year when the class was offered I went through the usual hemming and hawing, and then I decided I was going to DO this. I got so many signs that it was the right step to move forward with this. They say you should do what would make you happy even if you didn’t make any money at it. For me, that is simple. Writing and walking. I lead walks for my family in Michigan all the time; I led my sister when she was pregnant with twins, my parents, my other sisters, my own kids and family. This was something I loved to do, and the core of my workout program during this weight loss journey. A walk always makes me feel better. Wouldn’t that transfer to other people and help them? I had to try. I wasn’t afraid of failure anymore.

Now I am just so excited to be a certified Walk Leader for Leslie Sansone so that I can teach others how to start working out and becoming stronger. I am thrilled to be able to say I am now a certified "Fitness Instructor". I lead 3 classes a week. I am still pinching myself, I can hardly believe it. And to hear my students say "I love your class!" as they are leaving? Just amazing.

And to think at the start of this journey I couldn't walk even a half mile with Leslie. The journey of 1,000 miles does indeed start with that one, first, single step.

I can't wait to inspire others to take the first step, if they haven't already.

Is there a dream out there that is deferred to you? What steps can you take to reach out and grab it?

Graduation Class of 2012 in Chicago

Picture of my class. There's my daughter Lucy in the front row!

***
What happens to a dream deferred?
~ By Langston Hughes

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Another wonderful inspiring blog! God puts dreams into our hearts and then waits for us to realize we can do whatever we want to do! When He made me a leader of our team,Can't do this on my own, I was like ME a leader! In my life prior to becoming a leader I followed not ever leading any one. I followed my morals, and was not led astray, but lead a group, no not even one person had I led. But God put this burning desire to lead the team, Can't do this on my own. I was only a member of Sparkpeople for a few weeks. Barley knew how to do everything. Yet, "somehow" the leader got my email address and asked me if I wanted to leader the team I just joined. There were 4 other members who wanted to lead this team. I surely thought she had mistaken me for another team ember, or made some kind of mistake! however, when she asked me to lead the team, I told her I would love to, but was honest and told her I just joined sparkpeople. She wrote me back and told me that she had no idea how she even received my email address, and assured me that God gave her my email address! God pouts us in placed we do not know, asks us to do things we feel unequipped for, then He gives us the wings to fly. If we fly too high and do not use Him to help balance us we will floor to the floor. If we feel we are steady enough to do it on our own, we lose balance and we start to falter. It is when we take God's gifts, treasure them and seek hIm always that we not only float effortlessly, but we soar!

Well, God put this message in my heart, it was not really me at all! I was just going to tell

Congratulations on becoming a Walk Leader and fulfilling your dream! That is awesome and I know you are going to make a great leader!!! I love the Walk Away The Pounds dvds and have been doing them for years!!!

Congratulations on making one of your dreams come true! I know you are doing an awesome job with the classes and if I lived near you I'd come to them! I'm so excited and proud for you. Glad the classes are going well. Your daughter looks so cute!

That is so cool. I too love to walk and have always dreamed of teaching a LS walking class. I have been working out to her DVDs for years. Maybe I should work towards getting my Walking Certification here in Missouri

That is so cool. I too love to walk and have always dreamed of teaching a LS walking class. I have been working out to her DVDs for years. Maybe I should work towards getting my Walking Certification here in Missouri

I use to enjoy walking but walking for me is soooooo painful physically that it has ceased to be anything but enjoyable......it is something I have to do to get from point A to point B in everyday life but I have not walked for exercise in several months due to the lower back pain and pain in the bones in my feet now.

My dreams?????? wow I pretty much stopped dreaming when just getting through every day tasks became a challenge. But I am slowly beginning to learn to dream again. My passion is outdoors and sports......I am a true tomboy at heart. My body just does not match my heart and mind LOL.

I am the odd one who watches a pro soccer game and thinks about how much fun it would be to be able to run like they do for 45 mins non-stop, or watch a mountain bike event and wish i could do that too etc.

I dream of a day that I have to work SUPER hard to get out of breath, not getting out of breath walking across the street to the mail box.

So i am glad you did not give up on your dream!!!!!!!!! I had never heard of that poem but I like it.